Deeper Look Into Aidan Hutchinson's Contract Extension
Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes has made it clear — produce and you will be rewarded.
After handing out several extensions to members of his first draft class, Holmes made another blockbuster, long-term commitment to a member of his second in Aidan Hutchinson.
On Wednesday, Hutchinson signed a four-year contract extension that will keep him in Detroit through the 2030 season. He becomes the third member of his draft class to ink a new deal, joining safety Kerby Joseph (four years, $86 million) and wide receiver Jameson Williams (three years, $83 million).
All told, Holmes has now extended seven of his picks from his first two seasons to multi-year contracts.
Hutchinson’s contract reportedly comes with $180 million in new money and four years tacked on to a rookie deal that was set to expire after next season. NFL insider Albert Breer provided a look at the specifics of the money that Hutchinson will make over the duration of his contract.
He will make $15 million in a signing bonus, and have a total of $25 million tacked on to a combined $20 million that he was already set to make over this year and next.
The defender has $29.55 million guaranteed for injury in both 2027 and 2028, and $49.55 million in 2029, with $35.428 million of that guaranteed for injury. Hutchinson also has a significant amount vesting as fully guaranteed over the four years of the contract in March each year.
Hutchinson will have $19.55 million vest as fully guaranteed for 2027 in March of 2026 and $29.55 million vests as fully guaranteed for 2028 in March of 2027. Of his 2029 money, $29 million will vest as fully guaranteed in March of 2028 with $6.428 million vesting as fully guaranteed in March 2029.
Hutchinson is due $42 million in 2030, but that money is not currently guaranteed. That year, he also has a $2.75 million roster bonus.
His deal has four void years tacked on with option bonuses to help spread out the cap hit of his new deal.
Here is a full breakdown of Hutchinson’s contract year-by-year, beginning with next season, with details courtesy of OverTheCap.com.
2026
Base salary: $1,215,000
Guaranteed salary: $29,622,000
Prorated signing bonus: $3,000,000
Prorated option bonus: $5,681,400
Cap number: $10,146400
Regular roster bonus: $0
Per-game roster bonus: $0
Cap percentage: 3.1% (Based on OTC estimates)
Workout bonus: $250,000
2027
Base salary: $1,260,000
Guaranteed salary: $10,000,000
Prorated signing bonus: $3,000,000
Prorated option bonus: $11,339,400
Vesting money: $19.55 million vests as fully guaranteed in March 2026
Cap number: $16,049,400
Regular roster bonus: $0
Per-game roster bonus: $200,000
Cap percentage: 5.2% (Based on OTC estimates)
Workout bonus: $250,000
2028
Base salary: $1,305,000
Prorated signing bonus: $3,000,000
Prorated option bonus: $16,988,400
Vesting money: $29.55 million vests as fully guaranteed in March 2027.
Cap number: $21,743,400
Regular roster bonus: $0
Per-game roster bonus: $200,000
Cap percentage: 5.2% (Based on OTC estimates)
Workout bonus: $250,000
2029
Base salary: $29,550,000
Prorated signing bonus: $3,000,000
Prorated option bonus
Vesting money: $29 million vests as fully guaranteed in March 2028, $6.428 million vests as fully guaranteed in March 2029.
Cap number: $53,988,400
Regular roster bonus: $0
Per-game roster bonus: $200,000
Cap percentage: N/A
Workout bonus: $250,000
2030
Base salary: $22,000,000
Prorated signing bonus: $0
Prorated option bonus: $24,988,400
Cap number:
Regular roster bonus: $2,750,000
Per-game roster bonus: $200,000
Cap percentage: N/A
Workout bonus: $250,000
Void years breakdown
Hutchinson has an additional five void years tacked onto his contract, which is for the purpose of spreading out the overall total of his option bonuses. This also helps to mitigate the cap hit, which is quite hefy as part of the team backloading this deal.
Here is how the remainder of Hutchinson's option bonuses are spread out across five void years, from 2031 to 2035.
2031: $19,307,000
2032: $13,649,000
2033: $8,000,000
2034
2035: $0
It's worth noting that Hutchinson does not carry a cap hit in these void years except for the first, 2031, in which he has a $44,956,000 cap hit.
Steelers’ DK Metcalf Gets Punished by NFL for Controversial Actions
Things did not go according to plan for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8. After suffering a shocking upset defeat at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7, the Steelers were hoping to get back on track against the Green Bay Packers. Instead, they suffered their second-straight loss, with the final score coming in at 35-25.
Tempers flared throughout this game, and unsurprisingly, star wide receiver DK Metcalf found himself mixing it up with the Packers’ defense. Along the way, Metcalf was involved in a controversial encounter with Green Bay linebacker Quay Walker, and on Saturday, it was announced that he has been punished by the NFL for his actions.
DK Metcalf Fined for Quay Walker Encounter
The NFL fined Steelers WR DK Metcalf $12,172 for unsportsmanlike conduct — this run-in with Packers LB Quay Walker last week.
Over the offseason, Pittsburgh swung a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Seahawks to bring Metcalf to town. Through seven games, Metcalf has clearly been quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ favorite target in the passing game, as he’s got 27 catches for 461 yards and five scores. The problem is that the team doesn’t have much depth at wide receiver behind him, which allows opposing defenses to give Metcalf more attention.
While the Steelers are 4-3, it hasn’t always been easy for them to move the ball on offense. There are admittedly quite a few new faces in town, so it’s going to take some time for everyone to get on the same page. But several times against the Packers, those tempers boiled over, and it resulted in Metcalf picking up a costly penalty in the fourth quarter.
On 2nd & 7 with just over 10 minutes left in the game, Jaylen Warren picked up five yards on a run, but it was quickly wiped out after Metcalf appeared to attempt to stick his hand into Walker’s helmet and poke his eye. Pittsburgh was pushed back 15 yards, setting up a 3rd & 17 that they did not convert. Not only did Metcalf’s actions hurt his team, but they also cost him a pretty penny, as it was revealed on Saturday that he was fined $12,172 for this encounter.
“The NFL fined Steelers WR DK Metcalf $12,172 for unsportsmanlike conduct — this run-in with Packers LB Quay Walker last week,” Tom Pelissero of NFL Network shared in a post on X.
DK Metcalf, Steelers Looking to Get Back in the Win Column in Week 9
GettyDK Metcalf of the Pittsburgh Steelers catches a pass against the Green Bay Packers.
Metcalf’s penalty was costly in multiple ways, as it ended up stalling a promising drive in a game Pittsburgh lost. Considering how much the Steelers gave up to get Metcalf, he can’t afford to be making mistakes like this one on a regular basis. Pittsburgh needs every win it can get right now, and foolish plays like this have hampered the team over the past two weeks.
The Steelers will be intent on getting back in the win column in Week 9, but that’s going to be easier said than done, because they have a matchup with the 7-1 Indianapolis Colts on their hands. If Pittsburgh does stuff like this against Indianapolis, it will have no shot of winning. Kickoff for this big game is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, and all eyes will be on Metcalf to see if he can put together a bounce-back performance for his new team.
